Building construction



. I zw ff j 7? i Sept. 9, 1941. w. B. STOUT EIAL 2,255,194

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 1, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Arron/5.

wys. STOUT ETAL 2,255,194

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Sept. 9, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Filed Aug. 1, 1959 INVENTORS.

BY 2;? M5mz'z &. M M2 Aw, TTORNE Vs.

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 v BUILDING CONSTRUCTION William B. Stout, Detroit,- and Frank M. Smith,

Dear-born, Mich., assignors to Stout Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Dearborn, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application August 1, 1939, Serial No. 287,804

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to housing constructions. More particularly, it relates to a novel form of housing construction which is not only easily and conveniently erected but which is of permanent construction and which readil lends itself to modern. method of mass production.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a housing structure which utilizes a standard basic frame construction and which at the same time is susceptible of almost infinite modifications in design with the use of a relatively few more or less standard parts whereby the componentv parts may easily, conveniently, and cheaply be produced by modern mass production methods without the necessity of having the resultant housing structures be of identical or even of similar appearance, construction, and design.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a general more or less standard frame construction which in outline is generally the shape of the housing structure to be produced and which though in itself is not rigid, is so designed and constructed that when it has been assembled with the necessary paneling and wall structure-embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the standard wall panel structures used in the construction of the housing structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a wall panel embodying a; window opening and windows adapted to constitute a standard component part of the housing structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig, 4 is a perspective view of a wall panel embodying a door opening and door associated therewith also designed and intended to be a component part of the housing-structure illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along'the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showstructures will produce a housing construction which in finally assembled form is extremely rigid, strong, and weatherproof, and which is susceptible of easy and convenient enlargement to practically any desired size.

Still further the present invention contemplates the provision of certain novel and unique sub-assemblies which are not only simply and cheaply manufactured by modern mass produ'ction methods but which may be simply attached to or incorporated in the housing construction shown herein.

Yet another important object of the present Q invention consists in the provision of a housing construction which is made up of sections comprising more or less standard sub-assemblies which not only greatly simplify the construction and erection of the housing construction but which permit of its enlargement and expansion from time to time as may be desired.

Many other further objects, advantages, and features ofxthe present invention will become clearly apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away to show the interior construction and arrangement of parts, illustrating .a housing ing a typical interior construction and arrangementtof parts of one of the panels of the'present invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded view of portions of the frame structure illustrating in detail the manner in which these members may be mated together in order to form a more or less unitary and integral base'frame structure;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 1, illustrating in detail the manner in which adjacent panels are joined to each other and -to the basic frame structure; 7

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken along-the line 8--8 of Fig. 1, illustrating in detail the manner in which adjacent panels of the housing structure are joined together at the corners of the building and illustrating how they are joined to the basic frame structure as well;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, illustrating in detail the manner in which the roof and floor panels are interconnected with the wall structure generally, and the manner in which the housing structure as a whole is mounted on its supporting base;

- Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 1, illustrating in detail. the interior construcof one form which the invention may take.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts in section showing in detail the construction and arrangement of parts constituting. the

frame of one of the floor panels at the marginal edge thereof to illustrate in detail the manner in which this framework is formed for the purpose of providing easy and convenient means of attachingthe side wall frames of the housing structure thereto; and

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of all of' the frame elements, which, when assembled in'the manner hereinafter described, serve together to constitute the general frame assembly of the housing structure as a whole and to which the various panels and sub-assemblies hereinafter described in detail may be attached to form the completed building structure.

With more particular reference to the drawings, it will be readily understood that the specific emborhment of the invention illustrated therein and described below is merely illustrative Obviously, many other and further modifications and forms of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is, therefore, to be understood that the spirit and scope of the .present invention are to'be limited solely by the scope of the sub-Joined claims. It will be readily appreciated on considering the specific form of the invention herein disclosed that the housing construction illustrated in the-drawings and described below is merely illustrative of one form which the invention may take. By way of illustration, Fig. 1 illustrates a unit construction embodying the features of the present invention. The construction shown in Fig. 1 comprises a foundation structure, generally designated as 20, which may be of permanent form comprising bricks or cement blocks laid in mortar or may be of a more temporary nature, merely comprising bricks or other suitable supporting members removably laid in the ground at the point where it is desired to erect the house. As is clearly illustrated in the exploded view, Fig. 12 of the drawings, the framework of the housing comprises a base frame, generally designated as 2|, which may easily and conveniently .be formed of tubular steel members welded together to form a generally fiat, rectilinear framework comprising side frame members '22 and frame members 23, and cross bracing tubular members 24, which may extend both longitudinally and transversely of theframe structure.

. This base frame 2| is fabricated in such manner that it may constitute in outline the base frame construction of the housing structure as a whole. Suitable angle members 25, as seen in Fig.. 11, extend completely around the base frame and are permanently secured to the base frame in the manner shown in Fig. 11 by welding or other suitable means. These angle members, with the base frame members 22 and -23, provide a rabbet or recess adapted to receive the side frame members hereinafter described in detail' and also serve to provide an inwardly presented rabbet or recess adapted to constitute means for supporting the marginal edge of the flooring structure'interiorly 'of the base frame in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

. For the purpme of convenience in manufacture,

v.as will hereinafter become more clear, for various shown it has been found preferable to form them in units varying in length and width of five foot intervals, that is, in the particular construction hown in Fig. 14, the floor section is illustrated as being ten feet wide by fifteen feet long. The importance of this feature of the invention will become readily apparent hereinafter.

As is illustrated in Fig. 9, the flooring 26 interiorly of the housing structure is supported in the angle members 25 and may conveniently be formed of composition, wood, or other suitable sheet material. The side frame members of the housing structure illustrated in Fig. 14 are fabricated in units, preferably of a standard height, such for example as 7 feet, and formed of unit lengths-of 5 feet or multiples thereof. In the particular construction shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings, inasmuch as the side frame elements are adapted for use in connection with a base frame 10 x 15 feet, it'will be readily appreciated that the side frame elements constitute two 15 foot frames 30 and two 10 foot frames 3|. The side frames are preferably of generally rectilinear form comprising square tubular top and bottom members 4, strengthened by intermediate square tubular brace posts 35 spaced at 5 foot intervals. One of the end members of the side frame 31 is of square tubular form, while the opposite end frame member 38 is-of angle section, in order to mate with the adjacent tubular vertical member of the frame with which it is subsequently to be associated in the manner hereinafter described. Similarly, the end frame members 3| comprise upper and lower square tubular members 40 and 4|, respectively, with an intermediate vertically with the square tubular member 31 when the frames are assembled together and the tubular member 44 is adapted to mate with the angle section member 38 in the opposite side frame 30. The particular manner in which the angle frame members 43 mate with the tubular'members 31 at the comer of the housing structure is clearly illustrated in the sectional view,- Fig. 8.

All ofthe tubular and angular members making up the frames 30 and 3| are permanently secured together, preferably by welding, in the manner illustrated, thus providing a rigid unitary structure. The roof as a whole may be constructed of four identical sections, each designated as 50, comprising frame members 5| and marginal members 52 assembled in the manner illustrated. The number of roof sections utilized in the housing structure is,

of course, dependent upon the size of the upper surfaces of the frame members 5| and 52 v and waterproof covering 55 carried on the upper surface of the sheet material 54, As suitable finish c'eiling member 56 may be secured to the lower side of the frame members 5| and 52 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10. When the roof sections as a whole are assembled in abutting relation, they may be anchored together by means of bolts 51 which serve to anchor a sealing strip 58, underneath which is anchored a resilient Weatherstrip 59. The bolts may be provided with a decorative internal finish strip 60 engaging the lower surface of the ceiling finishing members 56. It will be seen that when the entire frame structure is assembled together, all of the lateral walls of the building structure will be composed of a plurality of identical openings having dimensions f approximately 5 x 7 feet.

In order to make possible the pro vision of a plurality. of difi'erent housing structures by use of a relatively small number of parts, the present invention contemplates the provision of wall panels adaptedto be mounted in the openings of the side wall structure. In Fig. 2 is illustrated a solid wall panel which is formed of suitable wall board or other equivalent sheet material and comprises an outer wall member 10, an inner wall member II, and spacer members 12 which serve to mount the inner and outer wall members H and in spaced relation with respect to each other and provide therebetween insulating air spaces 13. As is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5-0f the drawings, the

'outer wall member 10 is of slightly greater dimensionthan the inner wall member ll, so that themarginal edges of the outer wall member will overlap about half the width of the tubular frame members of the housing structure when the panels are assembled together. The manner in which All of the parts which makeup the housing structure as a whole may be completely fabricated at the point of manufacture and are all generally fiat in configuration so that they may easily be conveniently packed and shipped to the desired location, and it will be readily apparent from the above description that the assembly operation is an extremely simple one.

The particular manner in which the panels 10 are secured together at the comer of the build- 15 tightly, and securely locking the wall panels in assembled relation with respect to theframe and at the same time docking the frame members together in permanently assembled relation.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the construction provided is one which easily and readily lends itself to mass production methods and that housing structuresconstructed in accordance therewith may be produced which will result in an almost infinite variety of the wall panel members are assembled with re exterior designs by 'the'use of merely two or three spect to the frame is clearly illustrated in Fig. '7

of the drawings, wherein it will be seen that the inner wall member H and spacer member 12 have an aggregate thickness about the same as the transverse thickness of the tubular frame member 35 of the side frame structure '30. The marginal edge of the outer wall panel 10 overlaps the outer face of the tubular member 35 and is anchored thereto by means of a decorative finish strip I5 secured by suitable screws 16 to the frame member 35, thus providing not only a neat watertight, windproof, exterior finish, but also providing an interior wall, structure of substantially fiush, uninterrupted construction.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a window panel 80, such as is illustrated in Fig. 3, which is constructed in the same general manner and has substantially identical outer configuration with the wall panel structure illustrated in Fig. 2. The panel 80, however, is provided with a casement window assembly 8| formed therein, which may include a pair of permanently mounted window lights 82 and adjust- -bly adapted for insertion into the framework as By utilization of these three standard panels,

all of which easily lend themselves to modern mass production methods of fabrication, it will be seen that by erecting a standard frame structure of the general type shown in Fig. 12 and described above, a housing structure of almost any desired characteristics may be created. The

. number, arrangement, and placement of the various doors, windows, and blank wall spaces may easily be arranged and determined to suit-,the,

particular choice of the purchaserwithout thenecessity of providing any specialequipment.

types of frame assemblies and three types of wall panels, all of which latter are of identical exflterior configuration.

A particularly, important advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the frame structure generally may be formed of extremely light weight material because after the wall panels have been all inserted and secured in place they will, together with the frame structure, constitute an extremely rigid completed body.

Many other modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

. What is claimed is:

1. ,A housing structure having a framework composed of a plurality of separate prefabricated frames, each of said frames comprising top and bottom tubular members and end members interconnecting said top and bottom tubular members, one of said end members being of tubular form of substantially square cross-section, the other end member being of angle section adapted to mate withthe tubular member on the next I adjacent frame member.

2. A housing structure having a framework composed of a plurality of separate prefabricated frames secured together to provide a unitary construction, each of said frames comprising top and bottom tubular steel members, vertical members interconnecting said top and bottom them:

bers serving to define a plurality of openings in.

said frame of identical configuration, the vertical member at one end of said frame beingof. square cross-sectional configuration and the vertical member at the opposite end of said frame being of angle section. V .3. In a housing structure, a base frame 'com-. 1 posed of tubular steel members of generally rectangular cross-section all secured together and lying in the same plane, a member of angle section secured to the upper surface of'said frame parallel to one of the marginal frame members and spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of said frame whereby to form a rabbet adapted to receive the marginal edge of flooring to cover said 0 frame and: whereby to at th same time form a arabbet toreceive a side wall frame member.

WILLIAM B. s'rou'r. FRANK M. SMITH. 

